This weekend, the Department of State Services (DSS) released two protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance movement, who had been detained in Kaduna. However, as of now, at least 125 protesters remain in custody, including 38 individuals remanded by Justice Emeka Nwite in Abuja.
Reports indicate that these 38 detained protesters are scheduled to appear before Justice Nwite for a bail hearing. They have now spent over 62 days in detention, raising concerns about the transparency of the judicial process. Deji Adeyanju, counsel for the protesters, expressed his frustration over the lack of clarity, stating that while authorities claim to have filed charges, their legal team has yet to receive any official documentation.
Adeyanju highlighted the discrepancies in how protest-related cases are being handled across the country, noting that most of the 873 protesters arrested in Kano have since been released due to the efforts of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He mentioned that progress has also been made in Sokoto, where two protesters were recently released.
Nationwide, over 1,000 protesters were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, which were sparked by rising economic hardship and food insecurity in Nigeria. While releases have occurred in Kano and Sokoto, the situation remains dire for those still in custody, particularly the 38 individuals in Abuja and an additional 10 facing treason charges.
Adeyanju stated, “We are currently working on the cases of about 38 or 39 #EndBadGovernance protesters who have been remanded by Justice Nwite for 62 days. Their remand is set to end today. The authorities claim to have filed charges against many others, but we have not been served any documents up to this point. That’s the main challenge we have.”
He added that while he was uncertain about the status of protesters in other states, he would seek updates in the coming days. The protests, aimed at addressing escalating economic challenges, have turned violent in some areas, resulting in casualties and widespread arrests.
Written By; Christopher Emuakpeje